Jirachi still hadn't been able to make a decision.
In the past it had always slept within the crystal, only having seven days of awakening every thousand years.
Because of this, from the moment it was born until now, Jirachi had never gone anywhere.
During these two days, Mew and Teddiursa had been introducing it to all kinds of new and fascinating things.
The chivalrous Heroic Expedition Team, delicious Poffins, the bustling World Tree, beautiful natural scenery…
Jirachi listened with deep envy. It was full of longing for that kind of life, and really wanted to personally experience it all like Mew and the others.
But…
The Forina Land could not do without it; the Pokemon there and every single flower and blade of grass all needed its power.
If it weren't there, all the flowers and grass would surely wither, and the Pokemon living there would all go hungry and lose their homes.
Jirachi didn't want to see such a thing happen.
Thinking of this, its heart had already made a decision.
Jirachi looked at May and answered firmly, "Jirachi wants to go back to the Forina Land, to absorb the energy of the stars and help the Pokemon and nature there!"
Hearing this, May opened her mouth.
"But if you do that, you won't be able to go visit other places, right?"
However, Ash suddenly thought of a good idea.
"Then Jirachi just has to go back to the Forina Region when the thousand-year comet comes to use the energy in the stars to nourish the flowers and plants there! The rest of the time it can freely go out and have fun!" he said.
But Jirachi shook its head and replied in its childish voice:
"No, that won't work. 'Nurturing' isn't something that can be done all at once. The land can't withstand it. That power has to be slowly transmitted from Jirachi's body into the earth."
Hearing this, Ash was out of ideas as well.
For a moment, everyone's spirits were a bit low.
Naoki watched this scene. He had just been about to speak when he suddenly saw the Absol that had been guarding Jirachi silently stand up and walk to Jirachi's side.
"Absol?" Jirachi stared at it in a daze.
Absol's voice was low: "Awoo." (It's okay, don't worry. Everyone can already take care of themselves. Jirachi, just go and do what you want to do.)
Jirachi was slightly stunned.
"Absol…"
Ash didn't understand what Absol said.
"What is Absol saying?" May asked, puzzled.
Naoki didn't understand either. He took out his Rotom Phone, and the Rotom inside automatically translated Absol's words.
"Absol is telling Jirachi to go do what it likes…" Ash murmured.
But there were still many worries in Jirachi's heart.
It simply couldn't stop worrying about everyone in Forina.
Every flower and each little blade of grass there had been nurtured by it personally.
All these years, everyone had gotten used to it.
If it suddenly left…
"I-ma."
"Miu…"
Teddiursa and Mew also felt very sad.
Naoki looked at that Absol and thought that it really did live up to the name of Guardian.
Since that was the case, he might as well lend them a hand.
Thinking this, Naoki said, "I have a way to let Jirachi take care of the Forina Land without needing to absorb the energy of the stars."
As soon as he said this, everyone and every Pokemon around turned to look at him.
Naoki told them to wait here for a bit, and he himself went back home and took out that leaf the World Tree had given him.
[Leaf of Life: A leaf from the World Tree, containing dense Natural Energy. Placing it somewhere can nurture the ecological environment of that place and make it rich and beautiful.]
He brought the leaf back to everyone's side.
Ash and the others immediately fixed their eyes on that large leaf emitting a soft green glow.
"That is…"
"It's glowing!"
"I-ma?" Teddiursa and Mew felt a familiar aura coming from this leaf.
"This is a treasure I happened to obtain before. It can release Natural Energy and nurture the land nearby, making the plants around grow more lush."
"If we place it in Forina, it can take Jirachi's place. That way, Jirachi will be able to travel freely." Naoki said slowly.
"That's amazing!" Max said.
"Something this precious… if it's not here, will it bring any bad effects to your ranch, Mr. Naoki?" Brock asked calmly after thinking for a moment.
Hearing this, Ash and Jirachi also looked at Naoki.
Naoki shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry, it won't. The soil of this ranch was already very fertile, and I'm a professional farmer. Even without this leaf, I can rely on my own strength to make this land fertile."
For example, plowing, fertilizing, and planting reasonably, and so on.
As he spoke, he handed the Leaf of Life to Absol.
"Take it!"
Absol was taken aback.
Jirachi looked at the leaf, a confused expression appearing on its face. Like a simple child, it voiced the question in its heart:
"Why is Naoki giving such a precious treasure to Jirachi?"
Naoki answered with a smile, "Because that way Jirachi won't have to keep sleeping all the time."
Jirachi was slightly taken aback; from this human in front of it, it could feel a strong kindness.
"Naoki…" Jirachi called softly.
"Hm?" Naoki looked at it.
Jirachi happily flew into Naoki's arms, its tone full of gratitude. "Thank you, Naoki, you're the best!"
Naoki smiled faintly.
He reached out and stroked Jirachi's soft body.
Off to the side, May watched this scene and couldn't help sighing with emotion. "This really is wonderful!"
Ash also nodded, genuinely happy for Jirachi. "Yeah, this way Jirachi will never have to worry about the Forina Region again."
The summer night breeze blew gently as the stars in the sky twinkled.
Everyone spent a pleasant night with Jirachi on the ranch.
Early the next morning, Ash and the others were ready to leave.
Because their journey in the Hoenn Region wasn't over yet; they still needed to challenge Gyms, collect badges, and then take part in the Ever Grande Conference.
And besides that, they also wanted to go with Jirachi to return that leaf to the Forina Region.
Naoki wasn't surprised when he heard this.
Before they set off, Naoki brought Vigoroth over in front of Ash.
He looked at Vigoroth, then at Ash, and said to it:
"These past two days, thanks to you calming Vigoroth down. This kid really likes you. It's longing for life outside too, but I can't leave the ranch. Could you take it to see the outside world for me?"
Ash froze for a moment when he heard that.
Brock, however, heard what Naoki meant. "Does this Vigoroth want to become one of Ash's Pokemon?"
Vigoroth's blood boiled as it pounded its chest with its fists.
"I get it." A smile appeared on Ash's face. "In that case, Pikachu, I choose you!"
A capture battle was about to begin!
Brock and May stayed over here to watch.
Jirachi floated in front of Naoki and asked, "Will Jirachi still be able to see Naoki in the future?"
"Of course. As long as you want to, you can see me anytime," Naoki nodded gently.
Jirachi's eyes lit up all at once. "That's great!"
It was decided—after it returned that leaf to Forina, it would come live at the World Tree together with Mew, Teddiursa, and the others!
Naoki then looked over at the nearby Heroic Expedition Team, nodded to them, and praised:
"Nice work. You did a great job completing this mission."
"Ee–ma～"
"Miu～"
Mew and Teddiursa immediately grew a bit embarrassed.
"And Zapdos, I've already heard about your heroic performance in that battle. You're amazing!" Naoki praised without holding back.
Hearing that, a suspicious blush spread across Zapdos's cheeks.
It turned its head away proudly. "Chuu!"
At this moment, Ash's battle had already reached its conclusion.
He put Vigoroth into a Poke Ball and said excitedly, "I caught Vigoroth!"
"Well then, goodbye, Ash," Naoki said to him.
Ash nodded vigorously. "Yeah, goodbye, Mr. Naoki. Someday in the future, Pikachu and I will definitely come travel in the Paldea Region. When that time comes, we'll challenge you and Koraidon again!"
Naoki said with a smile, "I'll be looking forward to that day. Until then, I wish you a smooth journey."
"Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!"
With the goal of becoming a Pokemon Master, Ash and his friends left Naoki Ranch and continued their Gym Badge journey. What might be waiting for them in the future?
The figures of Ash and the others grew more and more distant.
In a patch of grass, Jessie, James, and Meowth looked in that direction.
"The twerps have left, ya know!" James muttered.
"So what are we gonna do now, meow?" Meowth asked.
When the boss of the shop they'd worked at yesterday saw the snacks return, he finally realized he'd misunderstood them.
Not only did that boss cancel their jobs, after learning that their "ship" had been destroyed and they'd been forced to drift here and work part‑time, he even gave them some funds to help them get home.
"What else? Of course we're gonna keep trying to nab that twerp's Pikachu!" Jessie said without the slightest hesitation.
Those Dragonite were way out of their league, and anyone who could get so many Dragonite to make deliveries had to be a big shot—definitely not someone they could afford to mess with.
By comparison, their plan to capture Pikachu sounded much easier.
More importantly, if they ended up dragging Team Rocket and Boss Giovanni into trouble with people they shouldn't provoke, that would be a disaster.
On top of that, Team Rocket currently had no plans to extend into the Paldea Region, so they might as well obediently head to the Hoenn Region and help Boss Giovanni investigate Team Magma and Team Aqua over there.
"If that's the case, what are we waiting for? Let's set off right now!"
James could almost see a bright white tomorrow waiting for them.
All of a sudden, a white light flashed, and a Wobbuffet popped out of its Poke Ball.
"Wobbuffet!"